New Age Werewolf Series Book 2: Hunter's Daughter, Alpha's Mate

Part 57: Merging Lines

Days got crazy.

During the day, wolves were coming to Cave Springs, and at night, vampires also came. As soon as an arriver got a thumbs up for us, Lani put a steel necklace on them. She said that since vampires and wolves were involved it was best for us to be able to identify each other so we don't kill our own allies.

Watching her was something. She had the mentality of a leader, and she was ready to fight. Even when Makya and Wisdom leaders arrived, she became a hostess to them in our headquarters and stationing arrivals in the wilderness on Route 53.

"Hello," Leilani greeted the Makya party. She gave a glance at the party. "You must be Alpha Ian--" I felt myself relax as Ian smiled and nodded. "This is...Alphina Amber?"

"Yes," Amber nodded with a smile, giving her the once over. "Aren't you nice?"

I moved to stand at Leilani's side. Amber could be something to contend with. It was then I noticed a male. I'd seen him before, but it'd been a while. When he raised his eyes to mine, his smile tired, I made the connection but was sure I was mistaken. "Wait--aren't you--"

"I am Alpha Jaeger."

Amber and I looked at each other. We were under the assumption that Amber's twin brother was dead.

"Dear Goddess," I breathed. "What--"

"Long--long story," he nodded, leaning on who must have been his mate. She was beautiful, and she was happy to be his physical support. Her eyes shone as she looked up at him.

"Jiro...?" I had to ask.

"Is in prison," Amber said tonelessly. She did a sweeping gesture. "This is one of our betas, Cole, and his mate Vida. Our other beta and her husband are back at the territory with my father."

"Welcome," Lani nodded.

"And who are you?" Amber asked.

"I am Leilani, mate of Kyros."

"Oh...a luna." Amber smirked, earning a nudge from her mate. I noticed that Lani didn't like the term either. "So if you could get our things to our--"

"No."

We all stopped and looked at her.

"We can't begin this way." Lani's eyes rose to Amber's. "I am Leilani Martin, daughter of half-breed hunter John Martin and daughter of Elaine Locklear, descendant of the Begays."

This wasn't lost on Ian, who gasped. "Oh, my Goddess. You're the descendant of two packs, one that merged with the Makyas and one that merged with the Kincaids, south territories on either side of the Mississippi. You're a lost heir."

"That doesn't matter now as much as there is a threat to the wolf order," I went on. "We are evolving, and there are parts of our wolf nation that are against it." She looked at Amber, and I saw her eyes glow for the first time. "This situation is so vast, so grave, that even vampires are fighting alongside us, but we need your allegiance. We cannot fight each other here, or we won't survive out there, none of us." She looked at me, and shook her head. "I will not risk my mate--"

"Nor I mine," Amber said in understanding, raising her hand. "Let's start again." She extended it to her. "A pleasure to meet you, Alphina Leilani."

They shook hands. "The honor is mine, Alphina Amber."

"We'll get the bags," Ian offered.

"Let me help with that," I nodded with a smile.

"We will get Jaeger settled," Lani called over her shoulder. "I hear he was-is a great strategist."

"He is," Amber said with pride.

"I will do all I can," Jaeger's voice was weak.

"Let me take him," Cole offered, taking Jaeger. "Lead the way, Alphina."

"We should keep the twins close," Lani said. "You are your brother's best treatment, Amber."

I led Ian down the hall to where their rooms would be.

"She is really something," Ian was smiling ear to ear.

"I was just about to say the same thing to you."